2022 Saw Georgia Exporting 7 Tons of Catalytic Converters

Deputy Minister of Environment Protection and Agriculture, Nino Thandilashvili, during her engagement with "Business Partner", disclosed that Georgia had exported a remarkable 7 tons of catalytic converters last year.

Primarily destined for European markets, these catalytic converters, which contain precious metals, are being extracted from vehicles in large quantities for export purposes, Thandilashvili pointed out. She explained, "The catalytic converters are valuable because they contain precious metals and can be repurposed for various applications."

Despite the lucrative nature of this sector, Thandilashvili asserted that the government does not aim to stimulate its growth. "In conjunction with the implementation of Euro 5 standards, we have imposed a temporary three-year embargo on the export of catalytic converters. Our approach, though complex, is designed to gradually reduce air pollution originating from the transportation sector," said Thandilashvili.

Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili echoed this sentiment at a recent government assembly where the prohibition on catalytic converter exports was a focal point of the discussions.